Tintin will be the first comic character to be awarded the Truth of Light award by the Dalai Lama, for making a significant contribution to the public's understanding of Tibet.

In the story, the young intrepid reporter Tintin and his companions, the blustering Captain Haddock and faithful dog, Snowy, go in search of Tintin’s Chinese friend, Chang, in the Tibetan mountains. “When I read it as a boy, I failed to appreciate the irony of Tintin desperately searching for his Chinese friend,” van Melick said.

Chinese forces invaded Tibet in 1959, forcing Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to flee to safety in India, where he set up a Government in exile in Dharamshala. ...

“It’s very effective and accessible for young people. It’s a wonderful vehicle for making them conscious of Tibet,” said Tempa Tsering, a spokesman for the Dalai Lama.